Durham, The Black Wall Street & The Home of the Black Middleclass
Every time I start a black History month project there's one story that grabs my imagination, heart and soul. West parish Street in Durham is one of those stories. That was home to what became known as the "Black Wall Street." Black-owned businesses lined this street in the early decades of the 1900's. Think about that for just a moment. Imagine what it was like to live in a Jim crow south where certain rest rooms, water fountains, movie theaters and parks weren't good enough for a whole race of people-- yet, in Durham North Carolina a "negro" could own a bank, insurance company, grocery store, drug store and become and entrepreneur. Yes, Durham was the "Capital of the Black Middle Class." I don't think we've lost this spirit of entrepreneurship in this country let alone Durham. There are still a few who are holdin...